Chapter 2 Chapter 2: I quickly took the only 150 dollars I had from my bag and threw it onto the bed before he could. I crossed my arms in front of my chest, trying to appear composed. I looked up at him and said in a mocking tone, "Although you're very handsome, your stamina is lacking, and your skills are poor, so you're only worth a little money." I said it on purpose. After all, I didn't want to admit that I only had a small amount of money left. "What did you say?" The man's voice was laced with anger. I had already said those words, so there was no taking them back. Though I was deeply embarrassed, I forced myself to remain calm. To make my act more convincing, I walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder. In a serious tone, I said, "I suggest you start by offering a discount to build up your experience. Once you've mastered the technique, you can definitely raise your rates!" With that, I turned and left as quickly as I could. As I ran, I could faintly hear the man's furious shout. "Damn it!" I knew it. I had definitely pissed him off... Bella's POV: I didn't dare to stop. I ran faster. In terms of strength, I was definitely no match for him. Fortunately, he didn't chase after me. When I finally walked out of the hotel, I was still trembling with fear. I placed a hand over my pounding heart. Thankfully, I had run fast enough. Fresh chapters uploaded on gαℓησvls․cøm I knew I'd never have anything to do with that man again. I didn't have to worry about him anymore. Thinking of that, I felt a sense of relief. After having some breakfast, I headed to the company. Halfway there, my phone rang. It was a call from my mother, Susan. "Oh, dear, today is your Uncle John's 60th birthday. We're holding a banquet at the Conrad Hotel. You must come." "No, Mom. I don't want to go." I knew that if I went, I would definitely run into my father and my stepmother. "Although I'm an adult now, my father cheated on my mother and me. I can't forgive him for that." "Your Uncle John and Aunt Carter have always been so kind to you. They've personally invited you this time," Susan tried to persuade me. I thought about it for a moment. When my father cheated, I was still under ten years old. Back then, without Uncle John and Aunt Carter, life with my mother would have been so much harder. After considering it, I finally decided to agree. "Okay, I'll go." "Just promise me, no more conflicts when you see your father!" Susan said. "He won't cause any trouble, and neither will I," I replied, hanging up the phone. Back then, my mother had knelt before my father, begging him to stay. She told him that as long as he didn't divorce her and gave her and her children a home, she would overlook his affair with the mistress. But my bastard father wasn't satisfied. He not only divorced my mother, but he also took all the money. . . . Five-year-old Annie, who can understand animals, saved Landon Hawthorne, a wealthy businessman, from suicide. Now she's his whole world and he's her legal cheat-code against every villain fate throws ...